Kory Marchisotto, the trailblazing CMO of e.l.f., and Jon Evans, the perpetually fired host of the Uncensored CMO, team up to talk about the things leaders usually avoid talking about; failures, numbers, getting fired, and so on. The renegade duo fire through topics at speed, on a 20-minute time limit… ish.
Fresh from Jon Evans' Cannes Lions talk, this episode explores why surprise is one of the most powerful tools in leadership. Drawing on behavioural science, neuroscience and real-world campaigns, Jon and Kory unpack how unexpected moments capture attention, create stronger memories and help brands stand out in an increasingly predictable world. Putting their marketing hat on, they look at examples such as Tubi's headline-grabbing Super Bowl campaign and e.l.f.'s unconventional product launch strategy. Along the way, they explain the science of Reward Prediction Error, discuss how to sell bold ideas inside large organisations, and reveal why partnerships can become a powerful source of unexpected creativity. Watch the new e.l.f. haircare advert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk2KmRlx7eA Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:38 - The origin story of Uncensored CMO 04:03 - Why surprise is the antidote to dull 05:23 - The data behind the power of surprise 07:52 - Tubi’s example of using the power of surprise 09:58 - Understanding Reward Prediction Error 13:09 - Surprising the judges at Cannes Lions 15:45 - Selling big ideas into the boardroom 17:47 - e.l.f.’s surprising approach to their new hair product launch 20:29 - The power of partnerships to be surprising 22:23 - Baking surprise into your culture 25:41 - Why you need to keep delivering new surprises
Jon and Kory explore the three qualities they believe define great leadership. From building genuine proximity with your team to being fully present in the moments that matter and communicating with clarity, they break down a simple leadership framework that can be applied whether you're leading a global organisation or your first team. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:53 - Presence as a leader 03:31 - The 3 pillars of great leadership 03:52 - Pillar 1: Proximity 11:47 - Pillar 2: Presence 18:41 - Pillar 3: Clarity of Communication 28:26 - BCG on leadership
Tarang Amin, CEO of e.l.f. Beauty, joins Jon and Kory for a special live episode of Uncensored Renegades to discuss the leadership philosophy behind one of the most remarkable growth stories in consumer brands. Under Tarang's leadership, e.l.f. has delivered 29 consecutive quarters of growth while building a culture centred on ownership, transparency and long-term thinking. In this conversation, Tarang and Kory share why every employee became a shareholder, how the company balances ambitious growth with a people-first culture, and the leadership habits that have helped e.l.f. scale at an extraordinary pace. The trio also discuss Kory's journey to becoming CMO of e.l.f., managing healthy conflict at the executive level, the rationale behind e.l.f.'s acquisition of Rhode, and why communication remains one of the CEO's most important responsibilities. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 02:27 - How Tarang and Kory met 06:30 - How Kory got the job at e.l.f. 07:26 - Why e.l.f. made everyone in the compary shareholders 10:48 - The challenges of offering everyone equity 12:35 - How do you get 29 quarters of growth sustainably 16:46 - Why Tarang writes a personal newsletter 21:28 - How to handle conflict at the c-suite level 27:53 - Why e.l.f. aquired Rhode
Live from Cannes Lions, Jon and Kory reflect on the biggest themes, surprises and lessons from this year's festival. From experiencing unreasonable hospitality firsthand to the continued rise of creators and the rapid evolution of AI, they unpack what really stood out, and why many of the biggest takeaways had very little to do with technology. Whether you made it to the Croisette or followed along from afar, this is the Uncensored Renegades debrief on what actually mattered at Cannes Lions 2026. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:50 - Unreasonable hospitality in action 12:22 - The power of creators at Cannes 15:25 - How brands can collaborate with creators 19:52 - The AI shift in 2026 23:00 - The impact of the World Cup 26:09 - How brands are getting involved with the World Cup 28:59 - Final takeaway - getting back to basics
Jon and Kory tackle one of the most talked-about, and most misunderstood, aspects of leadership: culture. What actually is culture? How do you know if yours is healthy? And why do some organisations consistently attract great people while others struggle? Drawing on research, personal experience, and leadership lessons, Jon and Kory discuss how culture is created, how it can be changed, and why hiring for cultural fit is only part of the story. They also explore why even brilliant people can fail in the wrong environment, how agency partners should become an extension of your culture, and why lasting change starts with taking ownership yourself. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 00:35 - What does the data say about building culture 02:06 - Signs of a healthy culture 04:52 - What actually is culture? 06:27 - The different types of cultures 10:14 - How to hire for people that meet your culture 12:48 - How culture can feed into your agency partners 13:59 - How to change a culture 17:01 - Why is change scary? 20:17 - Dealing with the right person in the wrong culture 21:35 - How our beliefs shape our reality 24:03 - Why you need to take ownership to change the culture
Today, Jon and Kory discuss the moments that define careers. The ones where you have to leap before you know exactly how things will turn out. From leaving secure jobs to betting on yourself, they reflect on the decisions that shaped their own careers and why waiting until you feel "ready" is often the biggest barrier to growth. They explore the importance of having a strong support network, embracing discomfort, and accepting that sometimes you need to take a step backwards before you can move forwards. This is an honest conversation about risk, resilience, and why the biggest opportunities often sit just outside your comfort zone. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 00:35 - Taking a giant leap 01:28 - A moment Kory took a giant leap 04:51 - Taking the leap before you feel ready 06:46 - Why Jon made the giant leap to go full time on the podcast 08:45 - The importance of a support network 10:10 - Get comfortable being uncomfortable 14:50 - The risks of taking the leap of faith 19:02 - Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a step forward 22:01 - Are you willing to lose the battle to win the war? 24:42 - You need a high risk tolerance
Jon and Kory explore why human connection matters more than ever in a world increasingly dominated by screens, automation, and AI. From the power of in-person experiences to the importance of empathy in business, they discuss why relationships are still the foundation of great leadership, marketing, and culture. Jon explains why he only records podcasts face-to-face, Kory shares why B2B is ultimately human-to-human, and together they unpack the mistakes agencies often make by forgetting the people behind the pitch. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:42 - What do we mean by human to human? 05:11 - Why we need more humanity now 06:55 - Why Jon only does podcasts in person 09:56 - What the data says about being in person 11:25 - The power of an in person experience 16:03 - Why experience matters 18:58 - Why being human matters in B2B 22:38 - Human relationships and the impact they can have 25:21 - What every agency gets wrong in a pitch 25:54 - How to be more human 27:33 - Everyone has something going on
Today Jon and Kory explore the surprising link between leadership and exercise. From CEOs and founders to top marketers, many high performers share one habit in common: they make time to move. The duo discuss why working out often feels selfish (when it shouldn't), how to maintain healthy habits while travelling, and what companies can do to encourage their teams to prioritise wellbeing. Jon also breaks down his philosophy of running, explaining how different stages of a workout mirror the rhythms of work and life. This is a conversation about energy, discipline, and why taking care of yourself might be one of the most important leadership skills of all. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 00:47 - The common thread for successful people 02:37 - Feeling guilty for working out 03:40 - How to workout while on the road 05:08 - How employees can encourage their employees to workout 09:31 - Mile 1: The hard part 11:37 - Mile 2: Rhythm 12:59 - Mile 3: Harmony 14:35 - Mile 4: Acceleration 17:36 - Mile 5: Let it rip 18:30 - How important is music to working out 19:55 - Becoming at one with the run 20:40 - Break things down into parts 23:06 - The two mountains
Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:19 - Kory’s 4 part framework for a good keynote speech 02:20 - Audience before content 07:16 - Don’t provide information, tell a story 16:20 - The art of good keynote content 20:50 - Obsess over delivery 24:58 - Jon’s poem on public speaking
Jon and Kory reflect on the very first Uncensored CMO: The Calling event. This episode recorded just days after it happened, with Kory joining as one of the keynote speakers. The conversation explores the biggest lessons from the event, including why marketers need to embrace “pattern disruption,” the underrated power of curation, and what lobsters can teach us about growth and reinvention. Jon and Kory also discuss the uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with live events, why polish is often overrated, and why genuine engagement matters far more than reach alone. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 02:24 - How Jon pulled off The Calling in 3 months 03:10 - The uncertainty of a live event 05:55 - Kory’s 3 biggest insights from The Calling 06:44 - Lesson 1: Learn like a lobster 12:29 - Lesson 2: Pattern disruption 17:03 - Lesson 3: Curation 20:41 - The lesson from Jon’s daughter 22:24 - The power of vulnerability vs polish 22:53 - Why Jon gave free tickets to unemployed people 25:40 - Reach vs engagement 29:03 - Jon’s big takeaway from the event
Today Jon and Kory break down why speed has become one of the biggest competitive advantages in modern marketing. Using e.l.f.’s Super Bowl campaign, created and launched in just 11 days, they explore what allows some organisations to move incredibly quickly while others get trapped in endless approvals and bureaucracy. From legal teams and leadership trust to decision-making and culture, this episode is a practical look at how to build teams that execute with speed. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:12 - What Usain Bolt can teach us about speed 04:43 - Why e.l.f. made a Super Bowl ad in 11 days 09:33 - How you can work at e.l.f. speed 12:27 - How legal can help you work at speed 15:30 - What needs to be true in order for speed to happen 17:47 - Why speed is such a big competitive advantage
Since joining e.l.f., Kory has famously achieved consecutive quarters of growth, 28 at the time of recording. This is an extraordinary achievement for a CMO, so Kory breaks down exactly how they did it, and what insights you can take back to your company to achieve the same.
Today Jon and Kory break down what actually makes someone memorable in an interview, beyond rehearsed answers and polished CVs. From body language and energy to asking better questions and avoiding corporate waffle, they share practical advice on how to stand out without sounding scripted. They also discuss how they personally hire, whether interviews are overrated, and why the best candidates treat interviews like conversations, not performances. Whether you’re hiring, interviewing, or just trying to communicate better, this episode is packed with useful insights. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 02:10 - Kory’s advice for interviews 05:07 - The importance of non-verbal behaviour in interviews 07:31 - Why you need to ask questions at the end of an interview 09:58 - How Kory and Jon like to hire 12:22 - Do we put too much pressure on the interview? 13:52 - How to show energy in an interview 18:34 - Do prepare, don’t rehearse 20:19 - Do strategically distill, and don’t ramble on 21:36 - Do have a framework, don’t have unstructured thinking 22:44 - Do have a conversation, don’t deliver canned responses 23:42 - How personal should you get in an interview? 25:09 - Why Kory wants to do a TED Talk 26:13 - Should you follow up after an interview?
In this episode of Uncensored Renegades , Jon and Kory tackle one of the most underrated relationships in business: marketing and finance. Too often, marketers see the CFO as a blocker. In reality, they can be your biggest ally. Jon and Kory break down how to build a strong relationship with finance, why understanding how the business really works is critical, and how to turn your marketing plan into something the CFO actually wants to champion. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:08 - Where the KBO$$ nickname came from 02:06 - Why the CFO relationship is so important 04:39 - Understand how the business needs to work 05:51 - How to build the relationship with your CFO 09:54 - Get finance to present your marketing plan 11:16 - How to make earnings interesting 14:31 - Are founder led companies more effective? 16:35 - How to approach risk in a business 20:52 - Translating data into insights
In this episode of Uncensored Renegades , Jon and Kory tackle something most people avoid: their own weaknesses. From brutally honest feedback from partners and teams to self-awareness and uncomfortable truths, they explore how to identify what you’re not good at and why that might be the most important step in growing as a leader. They also ask whether weaknesses are just overused strengths, and how traits like empathy or attention to detail can become liabilities if left unchecked. This is a candid, self-reflective conversation on turning your weaknesses into something you can actually use. Recommended reading: Good to Great by Jim Collins Indistractible by Nir Eyal Timestamps 00:00 - Start 00:51 - It’s ok to talk about the things you’re not good at 02:23 - How do you know what you’re not good at? 03:06 - Kory’s weaknesses according to her husband 04:22 - Jon’s weaknesses according to his team 06:19 - Kory’s weaknesses according to her 07:15 - Is a weakness an overbuilt strength? 08:54 - Can empathy be a weakness? 10:38 - Why Kory is trying to improve her punctuation marks 14:56 - Why Jon is terrible at company politics 17:36 - Why Kory wants to go to the doctors more often 18:50 - How to turn weaknesses into strengths
Today, Jon and Kory break down one of the most misunderstood relationships in marketing: working with agencies. From treating agencies as a true force multiplier to fixing broken relationships, they share practical advice on how to get the best out of your partners, and what to do when things inevitably go wrong. This is a candid look at trust, expectations, and why the best results come when agencies feel like part of your team, not just a supplier. Whether you’re managing an agency or working inside one, this episode will change how you think about the relationship. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:20 - Why agencies can be a force multiplier 02:11 - How to fix a broken agency relationship 04:12 - How to set your agency up for success 08:36 - Bringing your agency into your company 13:42 - What to do when things go wrong with your agency 18:30 - Be tough in victory and gentle in defeat 20:17 - What is the cost of changing your agency?
Today, Jon and Kory explore a simple but often overlooked skill: how to actually find inspiration. From brands like Tony’s Chocolonely to supermarkets, subways, and even nature, they break down why the best ideas rarely come from inside your own company. Instead, inspiration comes from changing your environment, staying curious, and being open to unexpected moments. If you’re feeling stuck, this episode is a reminder that great ideas are everywhere, if you’re willing to look for them. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 00:32 - Why Jon is inspired by Tony’s Chocolonely 06:45 - Why you need to look outside your company for inspiration 08:35 - Finding inspiration in nature 10:54 - The importance of changing your context 12:56 - Getting inspiration in a supermarket 14:33 - Getting inspiration on the metro 16:57 - Why you need to be open to be inspired
Leadership at the top level doesn't come free it costs time, energy, and often the comfort of a predictable life. In this episode, Kory and Jon get honest about what it really takes to lead as a CMO: the personal sacrifices, the travel, the pressure, and the constant balancing act between work and home. From managing time zones on the road to the surprisingly powerful concept of strategic laziness, this is a candid look at what high-performance leadership actually demands, and how to make it sustainable. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 00:39 - What sacrifices do CMOs need to make 04:37 - How to balance work with home life 06:36 - Managing time zone differences when you travel 10:41 - How to apply strategic laziness 14:15 - How to lead effectively under pressure from travelling
Getting fired is one of the most humbling experiences in business, and one of the most instructive. In this episode, Kory and Jon get candid about the times they've been let go, what went wrong, and the hard-won lessons that followed. Jon in particular has a story or two to share (including getting fired twice in 18 months), and between them they unpack what it really takes to survive and thrive in high-stakes leadership roles. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:22 - What Jon learned from being fired twice 03:35 - How not to get fired 08:20 - How to understand your boss (so you don’t get fired) 10:50 - Align yourself with the company, not just personal goals 13:11 - How Jon got fired for the second time in 18 months 16:12 - Are you the right person to work for a high growth company? 17:50 - Be careful where you get hired
Companies have boards of directors to make big decisions, so why don't individuals? Kory does exactly this in her life, so she breaks down why she does it, how she chose the people to be a part of her board, and the kind of decisions they helps her make. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:17 - What is a personal board of directors? 04:07 - When to use your board of directors 04:51 - What makes a good personal board of directors? 06:21 - How to choose your board 08:58 - The power of networking 11:41 - What not to do with your personal board of directors 12:37 - Finding people outside your industry 19:09 - Why you learn more deeper into your career
Producer's note
Steal the structure. Not the show.
Keep the useful structure, then change the audience, point of view, and voice until the idea is unmistakably yours.
